
300Please respect copyright.PENANA426DBLURvM
~I’ve been cursed with isolation, you see.300Please respect copyright.PENANAdDUYTJho0K
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Bright headlights beaming into bricks and concrete of the sidewalks on Park Street. The trees’ branches swayed in the wind, and so did the leaves, like a ballet dancer, droves of people were scampering into the Park Street MBTA station, entering the metal and glass doors, hastily marching down the stairs. The other buildings on Park street had closed their windows, but some had the lights on, to light the sidewalk for other travelers. And for some, a fancy restaurant on the upper end of Park Street, nearly below the street with no clear way on how to get inside. Samantha wondered where the entrance was.300Please respect copyright.PENANARtCYu4yK94
A car drove by, speeding through the red light, honking its horn. The tires squealed as it turned the corner, and Sam covered her ears as the noise scratched her inner lobes.300Please respect copyright.PENANA2jbSE4GpQW
“I take it you didn’t get an overseas conference call,” Samantha knew Michael couldn’t make it every Tuesday, because his clients’ operated in numerous time zones, and sometimes he was forced to stay late.300Please respect copyright.PENANAiH5FpEbAba
“No. I got an email that that’s not going to be happening for a while, I think. Tensions are rising quickly overseas, with Poland and Ukraine,” Michael covered a yawn with his hand.300Please respect copyright.PENANAkF1mDa78P4
“What do you mean?” Tim’s head immediately jerked, turning to Michael with alarm. The lights from inside the church flashed out as the receptionist flicked the switch off and on.300Please respect copyright.PENANAxIXxtRRkNQ
“Well,” he began, his eyes darted back and forth, making sure no one else was listening. “Look, you didn’t hear it from me, and I’m not sure the validity of this, but it has a lot of people overseas concerned. We won’t be trading anything overseas for a while, or that’s what I heard. And this is just a rumor, but apparently NATO is disbanding.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAw7vS1ih8qh
Sam turned her gaze to the ground, kicking some pebbles to the side. She reflected on what that might mean. If NATO disbands, will the U.S.A be protecting anyone anymore, and if not, who are the allies? Will this turn into a world where every country is independent, just waiting for a large superpower to come in and swallow them up? What will keep those superpowers in check? What will that do to diesel fuel prices? Ukraine and Poland, what cause do they have to be tense with one another?300Please respect copyright.PENANADqe9hLu0c7
“Wait. What?” Jennifer jerked her head to him. “Why? That’s a big development for that to just be a rumor. Michael, you realize it would take fifty liars to even think of spreading a rumor that big!”300Please respect copyright.PENANAibM4sO38gN
“Again. Rumor. That’s all I know, and you didn’t hear it from me,” he replied.300Please respect copyright.PENANAC0rF7dstxJ
“Dang it. I think I might be fine. I don’t know how much my customer takes in imports. I think it’s all local though,” Samantha said, interlacing her fingers in between her hands. The only thing that would really affect her in the brokerage, would be the gas prices. It makes it difficult to find trucks cheaply to deliver truckloads of groceries.300Please respect copyright.PENANAdKKZnwMfOv
Michael sucked air through his teeth. “Yeah, and I’ll likely take a pay cut as many of my associates are over there. But the effects of that is going to change the market considerably. Sam, I think it’s only a matter of time before the effects catch up to you; even if this is a rumor.”300Please respect copyright.PENANA2qD12BSDZI
“If it’s only a rumor, what’s the harm?” Tim asked.300Please respect copyright.PENANABAekmzZrAs
“The market changes drastically, constantly. There’s no way to accurately predict what it will do. Besides, even these rumors will affect the market eventually, creating a great rift in the economic sphere. These rumors, even if they aren’t true, will cause an economic collapse eventually, or just a severe recession,” Jennifer explained. The doors opened and the rest of the congregation walked outside. Samantha stared at Jennifer, shocked that she put so many coherent business sentences together in a row. She didn’t give Jennifer enough credit, apparently. “I’m not an economist. My brother is in stocks. Options specifically. He told me about all of this. The market is impossible to predict, but we can get close; behavioral finance and all that.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAggJ2Kl7etC
“There’s your answer. Even if it’s false, it’s bad,” Michael shook his head and patted his pants with one of his hands.300Please respect copyright.PENANAMUTm9asC7W
“Well, there goes my 401K flying right out the window,” Tim exclaimed, putting a hand through his hair. “Oh well, I suppose I could opt out of it now, I’ll just get taxed heavily on it. Thanks for the heads up.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAFj58zE1dzk
The noise of the rest of the studiers came out to a dull roar. Brian came up to them, he had a thinly shaved beard and mustache, his eyes were wide awake. He was scrawny for his height, built much like a basketball player, only significantly shorter. “Hey, you guys coming to Terri Nation?” He wrapped his arm around Michael like an old friend and had that overbearingly enthusiastic smile on his face.300Please respect copyright.PENANAkywCwhFTcl
Samantha rolled her eyes at the mention of Teri Nation, the local pub right around the corner, where they all went out for some dinner, and drinks to continue fellowshipping together after the study. After all, why waste a perfectly good night to play catch up.300Please respect copyright.PENANAMriBossd71
“You know it,” Michael shook his hand. “Wouldn’t miss it.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAZa1s6uPw1a
“Great! I’m going to head back over here now. I need to recruit some of the newbies,” Brian disappeared into the small crowd, talking to a few new faces Samantha didn’t recognize.300Please respect copyright.PENANAR90Bvbvulx
“Well, I suppose it’s time,” Michael said. “You all coming? We should start leading the cattle.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAnARlOe96N9
“Such a specific metaphor,” Samantha said.300Please respect copyright.PENANARg11xG5fCx
“Not really,” Michael and Tim started walking backwards up Park street, towards Beacon street, waving their hands towards them, ushering everyone to follow. “Last stop, Teri Nation. Who’s coming?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAQFFntORo8r
Michael and Tim started chatting to each other as they briskly walked up the sidewalk towards the City Hall.300Please respect copyright.PENANARPkMMm2xwR
Many of the other people around them continued to talk. Others started following in small groups. Jennifer linked arms with Samantha. Erin ran towards them from her group. Her giddiness gave her a child-like aura that was only complemented by the freckles across her cheeks. Samantha braced herself for what she expected to be ten times the amount of Erin’s normal bubbliness.300Please respect copyright.PENANATANj8XbDe5
“So, what are you smiling about?” Samantha asked as they walked onwards.300Please respect copyright.PENANAz4DK3fqPut
“Well, our office just hired another broker out of nowhere last week. He seems to have already settled in,” Erin smiled. “Though he often refers to me as the press.”300Please respect copyright.PENANArCkvOqLqcm
“The press?” Samantha’s eyes stretched open.300Please respect copyright.PENANA3yB54nEGhh
“My last name. Gutenberg. The Gutenberg Press,” Erin explained.300Please respect copyright.PENANA4jQhOM79C7
“Okay, but what does that have to do with you smiling already? Do you like him or something?” Samantha teased.300Please respect copyright.PENANAifSXA2xkif
“Erin’s got a crush again,” Jennifer chuckled, elbowing Samantha in the side. “Seriously, if it is not one man, then it is an equally terrifying different man, sometimes a stranger.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAF1OEJNIzEE
“I do not!” Erin scolded. Samantha assumed Erin was blushing in the dark. “Jennifer, you always find a way to make something innocent sound so inappropriate. Anyway, he’s very smart apparently. He is an excellent resource to go to for help. My job would finally be secure if I went to him for advice.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAS4xB6TvjiA
“How do you know that? He just started the job last week?” Jennifer asked. “No one learns the job that fast.”300Please respect copyright.PENANANYt43E4EKS
“He already closed a few hundred-thousand-dollar-deals last week,” Erin said. “Either he knows what he’s doing or is extremely lucky.”
“What?” Samantha couldn’t believe it. She herself was working a deal with another customer, but she is not making nearly that much in gross revenue, although it was a different business altogether. “How?”300Please respect copyright.PENANA1CCS1UQrBX
“I’m going to ask him tomorrow. I’ll let you know. Although, I don’t know how that will help you. You’re in logistics, not in stocks,” She snapped her fingers.300Please respect copyright.PENANAoXiscChwcM
“Maybe I’ll just invest in a mutual fund,” Samantha sneered. She had little interest in stocks to begin with.300Please respect copyright.PENANA7ePxkccGgT
“You two go ahead and talk finance if you want. I’m sticking to my germs. Much more interesting,” Jennifer said as they turned onto Beacon street.300Please respect copyright.PENANAy404Mofdly
“So, what’s his name?” Samantha leaned into Erin, bumping against her.300Please respect copyright.PENANARi1384Dan3
“He goes by Ted,” Erin answered. “He said he’s from Ohio. Not a very social person though, doesn’t talk much.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAhUUCeHLwh0
“So, enough about this individual that neither Sam nor I are going to meet. July Fourth. Erin, are you still coming? I need to order the canoes, and I need to have an idea of how many I need to reserve. We plan on meeting at Kendall Square at 6PM.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAayVA2d54hi
“Yes, I’ll go,” Erin exclaimed. “I’d love to go, I might be late, I need to skip lunch to leave work early.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAy5n9P8Gafe
“Don’t worry about food, there will be plenty. I’ll be packing sandwiches again,” Jennifer said. They were approaching Terri Nation which was on the corner heading back down towards Tremont Street. The City Hall was staring down at them with the lights behind the gates, and the Joseph Hooker Statue, riding on a horse.300Please respect copyright.PENANA3iX2aUDnBh
“That’s probably not the best thing. You might want to think of something else. Sandwiches don’t taste good out in the open sea,” Samantha suggested. “Maybe we can get Michael to cook something with his smoker. Or perhaps just bring some vegetables or something.”300Please respect copyright.PENANA5oGnh303by
“But poor dear Erin will be hungry. She’s skipping her lunch after all.” Jennifer chuckled as she opened the door into Teri Nation. “I mean to be fair, most of us, except me, will not have time to actually eat something after work. I mean, you get out late enough as it is.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAnXGa7tBqCv
“It’ll take a few hours, its fine,” Samantha replied.300Please respect copyright.PENANAQAsvJA9zB7
They walked through the restaurant section of the bar, walking through the wide hallway and took a left of the statue of a little girl flying a kite at the side. Michael and Tim were already sat in the back of the upstairs bar, talking to one another about something, while sipping on their own drink. Michael was always trying the weird concoctions that the bar tender mixed. He was like Scott’s guinea pig.300Please respect copyright.PENANAa8DuCBnxep
“What’s goin’ on Sam. What can I get you?” Scott wore a black vest over a white button up shirt and black slacks behind his bar. Everyone on the wait staff wore the same uniform.
“House Cab is fine,” she answered pulling out her card. “I’ll close out.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAB5jyPObrHw
Scott took the card and went to pour her a quick glass of red Cabernet wine. He always had a heavy pour.300Please respect copyright.PENANAItwCSSxJzQ
“Scott, I’ll take your specialty. Whatever that is at this moment,” Jennifer asked. Like Michael, she was also an adventurous drinker.300Please respect copyright.PENANA7TJUj0UVqe
“I’ll also take a cider. Bottle please,” Erin called out; her hand raised as her other hand reached for her pocketbook.300Please respect copyright.PENANAgxH5nxu77b
“Together or separate?” Scott called as he reached behind the bar and undid the cap of a frosted bottle of hard cider.300Please respect copyright.PENANAatMmIhMC2X
“Together. I’ll buy it,” Erin said, nudging Jennifer in the side. “The least I can do if I’m trusting you with my food on the Fourth of July.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAud3etU6KQV
Erin winked at Jennifer and squeezed her shoulder.300Please respect copyright.PENANAlYwMhljs9i
He then made the very odd drink with Bourbon, triple sec, coke, muddle mint and cucumbers. Jennifer frowned curiously as the drink was handed to her. Her eyes skimmed over the physical ingredients, noting this beverage, whatever it might be, should taste refreshing; however, such a taste would likely contrast unwelcomingly with the bourbon. “Well, it is different,” she took a sip. And made a puckered face as if filled with something that was too sour. And it did contrast, the way Jennifer expected it to, “Did Michael like this?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAkLADFbMlN8
“He liked it,” Scott started chuckling. “Do you?”300Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z4yTAUwDu
“It’s certainly different, I’ll give you ten points for originality,” her face cringed. “I haven’t decided if I’m going to like this or not yet. Give me a few minutes.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAy6SWOL6HuJ
“Gotcha,” he chuckled, quickly moving back to address the rest of his guests.300Please respect copyright.PENANA0ubFi6c9sH
Brian came in with his crowd of nearly fifteen different guests. Looks like he succeeded in inviting the new people here. Well, this certainly is great for the community. They are all new to Boston, or many of them anyways. This isn’t a bad spot to be, Sam thought. Brian’s friendliness and his great charisma was what kept Samantha interested in these little late-night gatherings, and surprisingly, kept her going to Park Street Church instead of some local church.300Please respect copyright.PENANAP8qG6iUQZD
Samantha knew that Scott was going to have a good night. She sipped her wine as she gazed up at the TV screen. Scott generally kept the news on in the back: unless they requested the sports channel. He was always very friendly, though when she first came here, he did seem like a tired and disgruntled man. He couldn’t have been more than thirty. He hid a smile underneath that thick beard of his.300Please respect copyright.PENANAGcD13yJhC2
Sam looked over to Brian again, noticing he took out a little pen and piece of paper, engaging enthusiastically in conversation with everyone he invited. He spent more time with the new faces than the old ones, nodding as they spoke, showing his elite listening skills. Sam guessed quite accurately he was offering to buy them a round tonight, by jotting things down on his notepad. Brian leaned over the bar top, and slapped his hand on it, and looked intently in Scott’s eyes as they engaged in some unrelated conversation which Sam couldn’t hear. Brian read off the slip of paper, and Scott immediately punched some buttons on the electronic touch pad and printed out a receipt, handing it to Brian before hastily disappearing behind the bar. Brian immediately returned to the newcomers, turning their hesitant smiles to enthusiastic ones. Samantha thought, Brian was better at making anyone feel comfortably at home.300Please respect copyright.PENANA7CDl183aFq
Then she noticed something familiar. The hair on her head felt like they stood on ends, and the chills came over her, cascading like a powerful wind. Goosebumps rose-up from her arms. She looked around, not trying to alarm anyone, hoping this may have been her imagination. Other people around the bar were putting on their sweatshirts or wrapping themselves with their arms. She chose to ignore it. Someone probably just turned the thermostat down. But damn it’s cold!300Please respect copyright.PENANAZOyHUqi5f4
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed someone. He was sitting by himself at the other end of the bar, perhaps ten paces from her, drinking a glass of red wine, like hers. Merlot? Or Cab? It was the same man from Saturday, first at the cross walk, then inside the Garden. Now here. And it seems the last time the temperature dropped so much and so quickly was with him around. Who was he?300Please respect copyright.PENANA05jTfvjsRZ
Scott brought this man a plate of mashed potatoes. This man still seemed to be smiling very widely as he thanked Scott for the plate. Scott asked him if he needed anything else, but he declined, and said,300Please respect copyright.PENANAg49pp5rKeW
64300Please respect copyright.PENANATfZw68QkiK
“I have more than I require right now. Thank you.” She took a closer look as the man took a fork and put it into the mashed potatoes and started eating it. Sam squinted her eyes at the man to see some lined scars on his face. The words barely made it to her ears with the volume of the bar.300Please respect copyright.PENANAtVC3bi8iY7
Twice she saw the man in a social setting. Twice she saw the man isolated in the social setting. Perhaps he was new to Boston, and looking for friends, perhaps socially inept. Well, I’m not Brian. But I’ll see what I can do. I at least know something to spin off on, she thought.300Please respect copyright.PENANAYQHx5Utn5c
She took a sip from her glass, scanning the bar top for Scott when he got a second. She raised her arm and called him over. Scott walked over, drying a beer glass with a towel. Scott leaned over the bar, both palms rested firmly on the bar top after setting the glass down, “What’s up Sam?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAQpJBZxGTvu
“That man over there,” she leaned in over the bar, pointing a finger to the man in the corner, retracting the finger around her wineglass.300Please respect copyright.PENANAchVtEOWIjK
Scott turned his head briefly to look, “That’s Ted. He’s been coming here lately.”300Please respect copyright.PENANANZESieCKJo
“Do you know what he does?” Sam asked.300Please respect copyright.PENANAWoEzjYBoat
“No, he’s a polite person, but a man of few words.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAGQXIccjHce
“Well, thanks for that. That was it. Thank you!”300Please respect copyright.PENANAV9JJjfDPBJ
She started walking quietly towards him. He ate silently. She was standing behind him as he was engrossed in his food, scarfing it down quickly. He took a sip of his wine again, turning the glass and looking into it as if he was lost in thought.300Please respect copyright.PENANAMpIC9hKj48
“Well, well, well, so a rat sneaks behind me, eh?” said the man. He never bothered to look from his wine. “To what exactly do I owe for the pleasure of such as this?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAoOCe5Wy5v5
Samantha abruptly halted. Her wineglass trembled in her hand as she looked down at the ripples inside the glass. Did I make a sound? No. Wait. Could he smell my perfume or was it the wine?300Please respect copyright.PENANAn3dvWYwPSq
“The scent of Cabernet was coming closer and closer. I could smell it approaching me, and then suddenly the scent just lingered. You can’t be more than twenty-three inches behind me.” He turned in his stool and looked up to her, and his smile was still wide. “How may I help you?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAfIqqkN9ZRO
“Startling, well I’m not a rat,” she chuckled nervously.300Please respect copyright.PENANAHph4zTGmUU
“And yet you came to me as silent as a rat.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAe5OJnvrY32
Well, he’s not socially inept, that is certain. He’s eloquent and very formal. She found him to be unnerving, yet intriguing all the same, “Rats can be silent nuisances, but I couldn’t help but notice that I’ve seen you before,” she commented.300Please respect copyright.PENANAi2z5lzyjkF
“Well, this is the Heart of Boston. Odds are there are many faces we see again and again, and maybe we recognize a few reoccurring faces here and there, but we never make a point to meet one of them. I know I certainly don’t,” he replied. His smile never faded. He stood up and rose his glass to hers. She clinked their glasses together, “Cheers.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAcTeCkR8LnH
Sam found him to be more mysterious, greeting her with a friendly smile, but the words comparing her to a rat was a bit unsettling. He was confident, this was evident, but was there something about her he found to be untrusting? She bit her tongue, fearing she made some kind of social error. Brian is better suited for this, but I can’t back down now.300Please respect copyright.PENANAB5IgbClCj2
“That is something true you have just said. My name is Samantha Harris,” she said. She brought her hand out to meet his other hand to shake it.300Please respect copyright.PENANARgZIQhkyHc
He reached out his hand to meet hers, shaking it. Samantha could hear the bones in her hand crack: he had a very firm and strong grip. “My name is Ted Anderson.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAgPyIW1UjUj
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She didn’t want to make it too obvious she asked about him.300Please respect copyright.PENANATcV6W0W6R8
“To be sure, Miss Harris, the pleasure is all mine. Now, I ask again; to what do I owe the pleasure of such an introduction?” There was something different about him though, his brown watery eyes looked right into hers. Ted appeared to her to be in his mid-twenties, but the eyes told a different story, as if they were much older than his body.300Please respect copyright.PENANAkPg90rIcuC
“I ran into you twice on Saturday. Right on the corner of Park and Tremont, and then again on the same day at the Garden, towards the end of that night,” she admitted, “You seemed to be by yourself, while everyone else was grouped together, or coupled.”300Please respect copyright.PENANA5doL1sN4bO
“Was that around the time the temperature dropped?” he asked.300Please respect copyright.PENANAP0MfqQrUtD
Her eyes blinked repeatedly. So, I’m not crazy. “Y—you felt that too? I thought I was just imagining things,” she stammered as she took another sip from her glass, looking cautiously at Ted. She felt something in her gut, like she should be wary of this man. Numerous people were with her that night, and only she and Ted felt it. And only they acknowledged it. Why didn’t any of them feel anything?300Please respect copyright.PENANA3fITtCKbQn
“Yes, I felt it also,” he said, “Well, that’s New England for you.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAGV7Ft2BPPm
“Yes,” she said, lowering her voice a little bit. “Have you been around Boston for very long?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAIwBSgU2Xp5
“A few weeks,” He answered.300Please respect copyright.PENANAX5wp9eKFTT
“What brought you here?” She thought to ask another question, hoping to find something to latch on to. She could hear multiple steps behind her, and the music played from the speakers, and the chatter sounded like white noise.300Please respect copyright.PENANARuq3fnB1T3
“Work,” he answered.300Please respect copyright.PENANAZHCFAEkSbH
“Where are you from?” She was dissatisfied with the answer, as simple as it was. Sure, it very well could be true, but there wasn’t enough information released from him to pose any meaningful conversation.300Please respect copyright.PENANAM2gndIqqam
“Ohio.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAdQtrhsT65C
“What part?” You’re like a steel trap.300Please respect copyright.PENANA9xgKA2DcsI
“Delaware,” he shifted on his stool as he took another bite of his mashed potatoes.300Please respect copyright.PENANAozgLQx7wJ2
“There’s a store I deliver to frequently over there,” excitedly, she finally found something.300Please respect copyright.PENANA9OOdVgOrxl
“Oh, and what is it that you do?” His expression didn’t change, but he leaned back against the bar and crossed his hands over his chest.300Please respect copyright.PENANAYUNGkid7bd
“I work for a 3PL. I deliver groceries for a major wholesaler. I’m a broker.” Dang it. She wasn’t expecting him to start asking questions, not that she had anything really to hide from him, but she wasn’t done trying to figure out who he was.300Please respect copyright.PENANAHMG7qUYxDK
“As am I. I deal with stocks,” he answered. “And options.”300Please respect copyright.PENANATwfjbh9R6d
It finally hit her. He might work with Erin. “Do you know Erin Gu—”300Please respect copyright.PENANAfWuNAzczPZ
“The Gutenberg Press? Yes. I work with her,” he laughed.300Please respect copyright.PENANAfFPfVev4P7
“Yes!” she laughed. “That is exactly what she said you call her. She said something about you today on our way over here.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAyyABVSMZQp
“Terrible things, I’m sure,” he replied, never lessening that smile.300Please respect copyright.PENANAmzAJfcgTXc
“No, she said you are very good at your job.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAJjmmo8TW2y
“No. I am just very lucky.” He got a buzz from his phone. “Excuse me a moment.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAZdwgB6eHBC
He pulled out his phone and opened something up. Samantha assumed it was a work-related email. He read it intently. He shut the screen off from his phone and put it back into his pocket. “Well, on one hand that was terrible. On the other, I’m glad I sold all of those.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAl5qnmZFS0q
“What?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAsXhRiu70dz
“Oh, NATO just disbanded, and Russian just declared War on Ukraine,” he said nonchalantly. “I just sold most of my foreign assets. Those values are going to drop overnight. I wonder, how will the rest of the European Union fare? Will they follow suit? Will they get involved? Most likely, as they have always done. It’s unfortunate that the world came to this.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAm0brLCg3vT
“How do you know?” she asked. Well, I guess that confirms the rumor Michael told them, but how exactly are you this calm about it? Ukraine is apparently pissing everyone off! Samantha knew that national allegiances were trembling as of late, the news told them that much. To her it seemed most everyone was inches away from everyone’s throats at any given time, and Russia and Ukraine were now the only confirmed cases of political collapse. How soon will this uncertainty reach America? Sam couldn’t help but wonder.300Please respect copyright.PENANAECdFBoF6Mu
“Like I said, I’m very lucky. However, some of the higher ups might think I actually know something when I don’t,” he let out a brief sigh. “Oh well, I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAi8ak30Q0iG
She turned abruptly, “Michael!” she waved at him as he was now talking with Erin. Samantha noticed that Erin frowned at them with her pouty eyes. She noted that Erin seemed to be boy crazy, she didn’t expect that kind of behavior from someone going to church weekly. But we all have our own shortcomings.300Please respect copyright.PENANAi2zyg6nNND
“Ted, this is my boyfriend, Michael,” she introduced them.300Please respect copyright.PENANA3aKvZb49q4
Michael walked over with a friendly smile on his face and introduced himself. Michael shook Ted’s hand, and Samantha could hear the bones in Michael’s hand cracking.300Please respect copyright.PENANAv6Rt9Z5WYO
“Firm grip. I like it!” Michael released his hand.300Please respect copyright.PENANAMnJSTn48gQ
“So, Michael, you know that thing you talked about earlier?”300Please respect copyright.PENANA7tPcB2vcdx
“I said you didn’t hear it from me,” he said defensively, abruptly turning to her, frowning.300Please respect copyright.PENANAXBieDwoyn6
“It’s on the news already,” she frowned, knowing that since these rumors were true, global collapse might not be far behind, she guessed this would immediately affect Michael’s line of work drastically.300Please respect copyright.PENANATMwqrGiSn2
“Wait. What?” Michael asked. “Already? I just found out about it, but I thought those were rumors.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAS8DQugIbB7
“Rumors have an unfortunate way of being steeped in truth. Odds are, if something is completely unbelievable, it is probably true,” Ted said. “I knew of the rumor but thought nothing of it until this morning. Thank God I followed my gut. I can sleep peacefully now.”300Please respect copyright.PENANABomMhSEEgr
“Well, it is only a matter of time then. Someone’s going to punch someone important,” Mike replied.300Please respect copyright.PENANAPJ2wwkN3yR
Ted threw his head back in laughter.300Please respect copyright.PENANAmO5jhyLHhN
“I think that already happened,” Samantha said. “Apparently Russia’s on a war path again.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAr9Fh61xvip
The phone vibrated in Ted’s pocket again. He pulled it out of his inside pocket and looked at his notification. He read the notification, “That’s not the only one on a war path. Well, I guess it was only inevitable that this would happen.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAO70fJT6qQp
“What now?” Samantha asked. She was considering how this news was going to affect her. It was clearly going to affect her business. Oil prices are going to raise. Rates for truck drivers are going to rise to reflect that change. Her rates are contracted.300Please respect copyright.PENANA5wi8b5IoJT
Renegotiating her contracted rates are likely to be fruitless. Her individual margins are going to decline. Her profitability is going to plummet. How soon before this all hits home?300Please respect copyright.PENANAAIlvqhOXHI
“Trade deals with China aren’t going well apparently,” Ted explained. “That being said, it’s only a matter of time before someone declares war. It is like twenty years ago.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAQMVROKnJKS
“Those were not good times,” Michael said. “Every major nation was at everyone’s throats.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAkghdpRkyue
“Precisely. The global economy was trash then,” Ted rose his hand in the air. He dropped it back down. “And just like my hand, we’ll probably be freefalling for a while, well, then it starts to decline that’s when we’ll be freefalling.”300Please respect copyright.PENANA3QmJkk0eFV
“You seem to know a lot about this,” Michael said, taking a sip of his exotic, but potentially terrible tasting drink.300Please respect copyright.PENANAGWjeXnhe1L
“I was in the Army before I came here, China was never too keen on Americans,” he kept his smile, but reluctantly gave that answer. “I know too much already.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAyo8ppGvUpr
Samantha knew this would pique Michael’s interest. His brother was in the 75th Ranger Regiment, “What was your—”300Please respect copyright.PENANAhPRatbxNMn
“My occupation in the Army is classified, above top secret,” he said softly. “I can’t disclose any information on what I did. I hope you understand.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAnDyg69ii2c
“I do,” Michael said. “My brother is in the Army. He is much the same way. Doesn’t give out much information than what is necessary.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAqZAHiYeD9g
Erin finally walked over, her hand resting across her chest. “Ted, did you just get Adam’s email?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAwqStwWUMQQ
“Yes, Gutenberg’s Press. I did. I got both of them. Well, if you have any foreign assets, I’d suggest selling them now. The market is still open. You may find a buyer, but if you don’t, I’d advise holding onto it and riding it out, or selling it as soon as possible.” This was clearly meant for Erin, and he gave her advice to work on, but Samantha picked up on something, noting just how volatile the stock markets are: Sell now, unless you can’t, then hold onto it until it rises again. Or just sell later. The window of trading that fast was small.300Please respect copyright.PENANAxM2BwKA54J
“Did you already sell yours?” she asked. “How did you know this would happen?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAut1Pm8D4YN
“I didn’t. I just guessed. You should listen to those rumors more closely,” he chuckled.300Please respect copyright.PENANAhevQ3n8pbp
“This is going to be a nightmare,” Michael said, ruffling his hand through his hair.300Please respect copyright.PENANAWU5ZV7XOT1
Jennifer popped up with her drink in hand. “Michael, you have terrible taste in this stuff. Why do I let you talk me into these things?”300Please respect copyright.PENANARJXQWVKpEy
Samantha felt a weight lift off her chest as her attention was immediately turned away from the horrific events happening with the world to something, albeit random, more pleasant. For that, she was exceedingly thankful for Jennifer’s interruption.300Please respect copyright.PENANA34e4Hzoox1
“First of all, I didn’t say anything,” he laughed, nudging her shoulder with his.300Please respect copyright.PENANAWaiNRP8Fei
“I mean seriously, this is disgusting, why would you drink this?” She turned her gaze to Ted. “So, who is this who is hogging up the party?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAQDzcfTg16V
“I mean, you can barely call this a party,” Samantha said as Erin was back onto her phone, monitoring her emails.300Please respect copyright.PENANAmnqar3d8TL
“I have to go. I’ll see you next Tuesday!” Erin walked over to her green purse.300Please respect copyright.PENANASVBe0JRi4S
Samantha waved as Erin walked out of the bar, relieved as Erin’s constant pining after men was growing tiresome.300Please respect copyright.PENANAtPFw9f8luF
“This is Ted. You know; that Ted,” Sam clicked her tongue as she pointed to Erin on her way out.300Please respect copyright.PENANAUuoNCr0cFB
“What Ted—oh! That Ted! Well, I’ll say little to compromise anything. I’m Jennifer, and welcome to our little dysfunctional family,” she joked. “Never mind me. I’m the crazy one.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAF4UntpnYNE
Samantha chuckled. She’s never boring.300Please respect copyright.PENANAf5Gy7NeFis
“Speaking of, Ted,” Jennifer seemed to take over the conversation. She would have made a great executive. “We are going to rent a few canoes over the Charles on the Fourth of July. I know it’s about a month away. You should totally come with!”300Please respect copyright.PENANAsH4FzqFhka
“Fireworks, over a body of water,” Ted said. “I appreciate the sentiment, Miss, however, I’m afraid I must decline.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAzhlFLAHplp
“Oh, well that’s too bad. Everyone here is going,” she turned her head as if looking for someone. “Now, where is Brian?”300Please respect copyright.PENANAfgnu2lyIwP
“He drove Tim home,” Michael answered. “Tim had an early meeting for an event that’s scheduled tomorrow. He couldn’t be out too late.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAQrt5zGzUsQ
“Such a shame. He really is personable. More fun than I am!” She wrapped her arm around Michael as she smiled.300Please respect copyright.PENANAN8fghMQhHa
Samantha and Jennifer’s minds were thinking alike. No matter how hesitant one could be, Brian can always get someone to bend.300Please respect copyright.PENANAo1690Pt9fc
“I doubt that very much,” Ted commented, making eye contact with her. Jennifer’s hazel eyes gleamed in the dim light of the bar.300Please respect copyright.PENANA04y62BXKJS
“Oh, well, I guess you can’t come under any circumstances, then, huh? Nothing we can do to persuade you?” Jennifer tried to coax some more amiable answer out of him.300Please respect copyright.PENANA8Lx0TppZLU
“Unfortunately, no,” Ted answered. “But I appreciate the offer, all the same.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAaz1TsFW76X
“Oh, well.”300Please respect copyright.PENANABqGFgJ9d8X
“Well, what about Tuesday next week? Are you doing anything after you get off work?” Samantha pitched in, eager to see more of this mysterious person. She barely struck the surface of who he was, and to her seemed one dimensional. She was eager to get the full picture and get the story of those ragged eyes and enthusiastic smile. The contrast didn’t sit well with her.300Please respect copyright.PENANAyT6Gqml1wh
“Um?” he hesitated. Sam briefly noticed his hand shaking as he hid it in his pocket. “Depends, if I decide to leave work or not. I’m a workaholic, and perhaps that depends completely on the rest of the information I know you are inclined to give me.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAkQhujHtMgQ
“We have a Bible Study that we go to on Tuesdays. It starts at seven at Park Street. This next week is tasty Tuesdays so there are snacks before,” Samantha continued, linking arms with Michael.300Please respect copyright.PENANAoYWI45vDyZ
“I think Sarah is making baclava,” Michael said, sipping his who knows-what-it-tastes like drink.300Please respect copyright.PENANAe3abbeSxV0
“Oh, yes, that’s a splendid idea.” Jennifer butted in again, clapping her hands together. “Seriously, Ted, you must come. It’s much less of a commitment than going canoeing with us in July. Especially if you’re new to Boston. It might be nice to have some kind of community that doesn’t include drowning yourself in work.”300Please respect copyright.PENANATNtZU0REjb
“I’m not going to lie; I do like working,” Ted explained, sipping more of his wine. “But with everything else that is going on in the world, I likely won’t be able to find anything worth buying in those oversea markets anymore. What’s one day going to hurt? Where is it?”
"Yes. But its tasty Tuesday so you don't have to show up right at seven. You can show up a little after,” Samantha answered, suddenly conscientious about how much she’d been speaking. “It is the best time for it a newcomer. We’d love to see you there, but no pressure.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAEpSaQRVZpg
“I’ll be there,” he drank the rest of his wine and grabbed his tab. “I’ll see you Tuesday.”300Please respect copyright.PENANA26BcWINhL2
Samantha smiled as he left, and she felt a weight being lifted off her chest. I’m still not Brian. Brian could have gotten him to go out for the Fourth for sure.300Please respect copyright.PENANAzMBUIr2NSW
“So, how did you meet him?” Michael asked.300Please respect copyright.PENANALGeqT01v0X
“Spill it, Sam, spill it. Details girl!” Jennifer exclaimed. “I need details.”300Please respect copyright.PENANAqU54c4iyAU
“I saw him twice on Saturday. First at the corner of the church, and then at the garden,” she answered.300Please respect copyright.PENANAcM8Ue0MnFx
“Like when you swore the temperature dropped?” Michael inquired. He seemed a little more curious now.300Please respect copyright.PENANAynzvTsXa4N
“Yes. He was there when the temperature dropped, and then again when the temperature dropped again in here. Didn’t you feel it?”300Please respect copyright.PENANA3FtNvi25gW
“Yes,” Michael admitted. “But that could have been anything. I wouldn’t worry about something so trivial as the temperature dropping, especially here in New England. The temperature and weather changes daily, besides, if it happened here, it was probably just the air conditioning,” he glanced at his watch. “And look at the time! It is time to be going.”300Please respect copyright.PENANARaEZa2PaFc
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